ENGLISH
REFERENCE

check off

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to mark an item on a list to show that you have finished it or dealt with it.

phr. v.. to mark items on a list with a tick or similar notation to indicate completion or verification; often used in the context of administrative tasks or inventory.


SIMPLE

I check off each task as I finish it.

CONTEXTUAL

Before leaving for the airport, she checked off every item on her packing list to ensure nothing was forgotten.

COMPLEX

The supervisor meticulously checked off the names on the manifest to confirm that all passengers had safely boarded the vessel.

Particles
off
Separability
optional
Pattern
check + (object) + off
Usage

commonly used with lists, tasks, or names; the object can go between 'check' and 'off'.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'tick off' (more common in British English) and 'cross off' (which implies drawing a line through the item rather than just marking it as done).

Pitfall

I checked off of the items.I checked off the items.the preposition 'of' is unnecessary after the particle 'off'.

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